Buck’s Fishing & Camping, in northwest DC, has an awesome ambience. It’s a neighborhood place with terrific food and a great vibe—artsy and sort of moody. The decor is meant to conjure an old fishing camp: There are canoes in the ceiling, and big huge plants, and great, dark red lighting. It’s like going to a private dinner for two anytime you go in: it’s very intimate and dark, and it feels like an escape from DC.
I really like their cheeseburger, with great prime beef and a brioche bun. The burger comes with these massive French fries, which I think are cut by hand, and are served with the best aioli I’ve ever had. Buck’s was just listed in Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsma’s hall of fame, because it’s one of those restaurants that’s been able to withstand the test of time. It lives and functions on its own wavelength.
